### 2.1 Creating a DITA2Go conversion project

To create a DITA2Go project, start the DITA2Go Project Manager. (If you do not already have a desktop shortcut to this program, see Finish installing, Step 3 under §1.3.3 Install DITA2Go).

On the Create tab:

1. For Project name, specify a name for your conversion project; or, to start with the same configuration as an existing project, select the name of that project and change it to a new name.
2. For DITA source directory, browse to the directory where the DITA map file you wish to use for this conversion is located. It does not matter where the files referenced in the map are located, as long as those files are accessible.
3. For DITA source map file, browse to the bookmap or to a ditamap to use for the project. If your DITA document does not include any map files, select a topic file as a starting point, and DITA2Go will create a map for the document.

   Note: If there is a bookmap in the directory, DITA2Go will select it automatically, and you will not have to browse for it. If there is no bookmap, DITA2Go will check for a ditamap; if no ditamap, for a .dita file. If none of those are present, DITA2Go will show the last map used in an active project.

4. For Output type, select the output format you want DITA2Go to produce. The default output type is OmniHelp.
5. For Output Directory, use the Browse dialog to create a new directory for the output files to be produced with this project. A good place to create such a directory is under the directory where your DITA .bookmap, .ditamap, or .dita files are located.

   Note: Never create more than one output in the same directory; they will conflict badly.

6. Click Create Project. The DITA2Go Project Manager copies a starting configuration file for the output type you specified, from your DITA2Go d2g\local\starts directory (or from d2g\system\starts) to the output directory; then DITA2Go saves the project options you specified.
7. Click Configure Defaults to use a wizard to establish values for basic project settings; see §2.3 Configuring default DITA2Go project settings.
8. Click Edit Ini Files to edit the starting and source-specific configuration files directly; see § Specify a text editor.

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Parent Topic: 2. Converting DITA documents

Sibling Topics:

2.2 Modifying a DITA2Go conversion project

2.3 Configuring default DITA2Go project settings

2.4 Inspecting and editing configuration files

2.5 Running a DITA2Go conversion

2.6 Customizing the DITA2Go Project Manager

2.7 Converting documents from the command line